Arians, 60, served as the Colts’ interim head coach this season while Chuck Pagano was being treated for leukemia. The Colts were 9-3 with Arians at the helm, and he said that experience taught him that being a head coach is “not as hard as it’s supposed to be.”

“I think it’s all about building relationships,” Arians said. “Coaching is all about relationships. As long as it’s built on trust, loyalty, and respect, anything is possible.”

Arizona confirmed in a release on Thursday night that Arians received a four-year contract with an option for a fifth year. He replaces Ken Whisenhunt[2], who was fired after six seasons with the Cardinals and was named Chargers offensive coordinator on Thursday.

Arians has succeed Whisenhunt once before, when he took over for him as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator in 2007. There, he said he rewrote and simplified Whisenhunt’s playbook, a welcome statement for Cardinals fans eager for change.

The Cardinals finished 5-11 for the second time in three years this season. Arians will try to bring stability to that side of their game, especially the quarterback position, where four different players started last year.